Composite electrical signaling and inter-communicating system



COMPOSITE ELECTRICAL SIGNALTNG AND TNTER-COMMUNICATING SYSTEM R. G.BROWN May 15, 1956 Filed June 6, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

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ORNEY nited States Patent COMPOSITE ELECTRICAL SIGNALIN ANDINTER-COMl't/IUNICATING SYSTEM Reagan G. Brown, Oklahoma City, Okla.Application .lune 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,540

17 Claims. (Cl. 179-5) The present invention relates to robbery andburglary alarm systems, and more particularly to a composite electricsignaling and inter-communicating system in which the alarm signals andthe inter-communicating telephones are operated over conductors commonto both.

Alarm systems such as are commonly used to foil robbery attempts inbanks, ticket oces, pay windows, etc., are usually operated by amanually operated switch or button. This type of an alarm system has thedisadvantage occasioned by the attendants failure to sound the alarm dueto the threats of bodily harm to the attendant, made by the robber whois watching every move of his victim.

Therefore it is the primary object of this invention to provide an alarmsystem and connecting inter-communicating telephones in which thestation under attack will automatically audibly signal a central watchstation or stations, such as guard stations, or the police station, orboth, by an act of the attacker or by an apparently normal act of theattendant.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an alarm system ofthis class which will silently indicate to the attendant that the alarmis being sounded.

An additional object is to provide a composite alarm system whichoperates equally as well when used as a night or holiday protectivesystem as when used during business day hours.

Another object is to provide an alarm system which of the conductorsleading to or from the bells or telephones.

Another important object of the instant invention is to provide anemergency source of power for operating the system and means forautomatically placing the same in operation upon failure of theprincipal source of supply and which means will automatically restorethe system to the original source of power upon its return to normalcy.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a means of audiblysignaling attendants thatthe emergency source of power is being used.

Yet another important object is to provide an alarm system of this classwhich features an alternating low frequency current for sounding analarm in the watch stations, separate and distinct from the directcurrent sources normally used in the protective operational features ofthe system, thereby avoiding possibility of false alarms at the watchstations which is ordinarily eX- perienced in direct current open andclosed circuit alarm systems.

Another object is to provide an alarm system of this 2,745,90 PatentedMay 15, 1956 rifice class which includes a means of visual and audibleintercommunication.

Still another object is to provide an alarm system of this class whichincludes a means for balancing the impedance ofthe audible or telephonecircuit to thereby eliminate inductive disturbances and improvetelephonie communication.

An additional object is to provide an alarm system of this class inwhich is included a resistance of fixed value in the conductor line,thereby establishing iixed current values in relay adjustments forstable operation.

Another object is to include in this alarm system a xed resistancewhereby connecting the same across the conductor line disconnects theinter-communicating means and substitutes a facsimile of the normal linecondition for determining character and location of line trouble.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providingan alarm system containing a series of relays maintained and operatedfrom a commercial alternating current source of supply, such as volt,when the system is in operation and connected with a plurality oftelephones connected in multiple series and remotely located at acentral watch station. Means including lamps and a marginal relayindicates defects and the nature of the same within the system. Amakebefore-break switch associated with the primary relay, converts thesystem to batteryoperation in connection with a battery ringingconverter in the event of commercial current failure, and restores itupon resumption of the same. The marginal relay further provides a meansof signaling attendants by operation of telephone switch hooks forinter-communication without disturbing the alarm system, and provides abalanced impedance for clearer telephonic communication. A subcycleringer is actuated by any one of three alarm key contacts, and a relayto ring warning bells until the same are silenced by the removal of atelephone from its hook. An electric timer connected with a normallyopen circuit and a normally closed circuit, associated with the alarmkey, makes contact to sound an alarm upon opening the closed circuit, orupon closing the open circuit.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying single sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention by usual schematic circuit symbols;and

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an alarm switch as usedby the system.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures ofthe drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

' The circuit of the present invention is connected to a source ofcommercial alternating current designated by terminals 5 and 6, througha suitable fuse 7 and switch box, not shown. The system alsoV includes asource of direct current 9, comprising a transformer 10 and a full-Waverectifier 11, which may be a drydisc rectier, the output terminals ofwhich are bridged by condensers 12 and an impedance coil 13 to smoothout undulations in the output current of the rectifier.

The above described arrangement is conventional with many electricalalarm systems and constitutes no part of the present invention otherthanto serve as a suitable source of ltered direct current.

The details of the alarm system will be best understood by a descriptionof each typical operation.

Normal operation Current from the output terminals of the rectiiier 11,

vthrough the windings of a first relay A, maintains the same operated,closing the springs 20 and 2 1 with their respective make contacts 22and 23. A circuit may now be traced from spring and its make contact 22over conductors 25 and 26, spring 27 and its make contact, conductor 28,through one winding of a double wound relay B, conductor 29 and its makecontact with spring 30, conductor 31, through spring 32 and its makecontact 33 of test key C, conductor 34, through a desired number of lowfrequency alternating current telephone alarm bells D connected inmultiple series located in selected location 39, conductor 35 and itsmake contact 36 with spring 37 of test key C, conductor 38 throughspring 40 and its make contact, conductor 41 through a second winding ofthe relay B, over conductor 42, through rheostat E, conductor 44,through the winding of marginal relay F, through contact 23 to spring 21over conductor 43. Relays A and B operate over this circuit. Relay Fremains unoperated, duc to the high resistance of the normal linecondition.

Sounding an alarm When the present system is installed in a desiredlocation, for example a bank, or the like, two types of alarm keys areinstalled. One type may be a simple manually operated key as indicatedby the letter G, which is preferably installed in the bank vault. Theother key or switch is indicated generally as at H, and is illustratedin cross-sectional detail (Fig. 2). The key H is preferably installedunder or within a money drawer of the tellers cage, not shown, with onlythe spring and its make contact bar 46 projecting into the drawer. Thekey H is inactivated or held open by insulating material, such ascurrency 47, flatly disposed between the spring 45 and its make contact46, which insulates or breaks the key contact points. The key H furtherincludes a resilient member 48 bearing against the upper surface of themake contact bar 46. The purpose of the member 48 is to frictionallyengage and securely retain the insulating material or currency 47 inposition between the contact points to prevent accidental removal of thesame, thus sounding a false alarm. Suitable insulation 49 separates thejuncture of the spring 45, the member 48, and the contact bar 46, tospacedly separate the terminal ends of the contacts 45 and 46.

An alarm may be sounded by manually depressing spring 50 with its makecontact of alarm key G or by the manual removal of the currency 47between the contacts 45 and 46 of the key H, thus closing the contactsto actuate the alarm circuit. A circuit may then be traced from spring20 and its make contact `22 through the Winding of a second relay l overconductor 275, through alarm key contacts G or `H over conductors 51 and52, through spring 53 and its make contact 56 in switch hook P, throughcontact 23 to spring 21 over conductors 54 and 43. Operation of v'relayJ by the above traced circuit moves springs 27-30 and 40-55 to theirrespective contacts 57--58 and 60-61 to apply an alternating ringingcurrent from a sub-cycle ringer K to the telephone bells D. The purposeof 'spring 55 and its contact 61 is more fully explained hereinbelow.The ringer K, which is preferably a 20 or 30 cycle ringer, is directlyconnected in a conventional 'manner to a commercial current and acircuit may be traced from one terminal 62 of the ringer K overconductor 63 and through its make contact with spring 64, over conductor65 and through its contact 58 with spring 3Q, conductor 31 and throughits contact 32 with spring 33 of test key C through bells D overconductors 34 and 35, through contact 36 with spring 37 in test key C,over conductor 38, through spring 40 and its contact 60, over conductor66, through spring 67 and its make contact to the terminal 68 of ringerK over conductor 69.

The cycle ringer K continuously rings the bells D until telephone T isremoved from the switch-hook P. Telephone T is normally located in thebank vaultwith alarm key G. When an alarm is sounded by the removal ofthe currency 47 from key H, the alarm bells ring continuously thusindicating to the guards or attendants that a robbery is taking place.When the alarm is sounded by manually closing the points of alarm key Gwithin the vault, the telephone may be alternately removed and replacedon the switch-hook P to intermittently ring the alarm bells thusindicating to the guards or attendants that telephonie communication isdesired. ln this instance the guards may be informed of the emergencyand the nature of the same by telephone. It seerns obvious that thetelephones T and U are not to be used except in an emergency becauseremoval of the telephone T from its switch-hook P renders the systeminoperative. Removing telephone T from the hook P releases spring '53from its make contact to break the circuit traced hereinabove by thecontacts of the alarm key G or H to restore relay J and return springs27-30 and 40- 55 to their respective make contacts for the normalcircuit operation as traced hereinabove, providing current fortelephonie inter-communication between telephone T and telephones U.Operating switch-kook P also closes spring 59 with the contact 56 toshort the winding of relay F over a circuit traced from contact 56through spring 59, rheostat E and the winding of relay F over conductors70, 42, 44, and 54, thereby preventing the operation of relay F whichalso establishes a balanced impedance circuit for telephonecommunication, eliminating inductive disturbances. Operation of relay lilluminates alarm lamp L, preferably located in the bank vault, forindicating an alarm is being sounded over a circuit traced from spring20 and contact 22, over conductors 25 and 26, through spring 27 and itscontact 57 through lamp L over conductors 72, 73 and 43 through contact23 to spring 21.

Aconventional timer is installed in a conventional manner within thesystem for controlling the times the vault, not shown, may be opened.The timer is connected with the system through a relay Y over a normallyclosed circuit and a normally open circuit. The closed circuit may hetraced from spring 20 and its contact 22 over conductors 25 and 112through the windings of relay Y, through vault door spring 114 and itscontact 115, over conductor 52, through spring 53 and its contact 56,over conductors 54 and 43 to spring 21 through its contact 23. Thiscircuit remains closed during the time the vault doors are left closedand the timer is not making contact with the conductors of the system,which times are predetermined as is conventional with timers of thisclass. This above described closed circuit maintains the relay Yoperated. Ir at any time either of the vault door contacts are openedbefore the time set for the timer to operate, vault door spring 114breaks the Vclosed circuit in being removed from conttact 115 restoringrelay Y allowing spring 116m make with its contact 117, thus closing thealarm circuit as traced hereinabove for the alarm keys.

The timer X is connected with the conductor 113 and to the conductor 52by conductor 118. At a predeter- `mined time the contact 119 makescontact which closes a companion circuit from relay Y over conductor113, through contact 119 of the timer X and to conductor 52 overconductor 118, thus closing the circuit traced hereinabove for the vaultdoor maintaining the relay Y operated and permitting the opening of thevault door and breaking the contacts 114 and 115 without sounding analarm.

Line or telephone trouble lAn open or break, for example in theconductors 34, 35, or telephone U, restores relay B releasing springs 71and 74 from their make contacts into engagement with their respectivecontacts. A circuit may then be traced through spring 20 and its contact22, conductors 25 and 26, spring 27, conductors 28 through spring 71 andcontact 75, over conductor '76, through spring 7 and its contact key M,through the winding of buzzer N through contact 23 to spring 21 overconductors 78, 73 and 43 operating the buzzer N. Under these conditionsa companion circuit may also be traced from spring 71 through contact75, over conductor 79, spring 74 through contact 80, conductor 81through troubleindicating lamp O and contact 23 to spring 21 overconductors 73 and 43 illuminating lamp O for Visual indication of abreak in the line. Opening key M by manually moving spring 77 from itscontact, silences the buzzer N. Repair of the line break restores thecircuit to normal to operate relay B and extinguish lamp O.

Similarly when the resistance of the line as disclosed above in normaloperation drops or is low, marginal relay F operates and remainsoperated to visually and audibly indicate a short or ground in thesystem by the following circuit which may be traced through spring andits Contact 22, over conductors 25, 82, through spring 83 and its makecontact, over conductors 84, 79, and 76, through spring 77 and itscontact in key M, through the winding of buzzer N, through contact 23 tospring 21 over conductors 78, 73 and 43, thus activating buzzer N tocomplete the audible warning. The visual signal or warning whichilluminates a troubleindicating lamp Q comprises a companion circuitwhich may be traced from conductor S4 through spring 74 and its makecontact, through lamp Q and contact 23 to spring 21 over conductors 85,73 and 43, illuminating lamp Q. When either lamp O or Q is illuminatedand buzzer N is operating indicating a line break, short or ground, keyC may be manually operated to determine whether or not the defecttrouble is within the conductors 34 or 35 leading to or in thetelephones U. Springs 32 and 37 of test key C are moved from theirrespective make contacts 33 and 36 to make contact with the terminalends of a resistor R of iixed value, thus disconnecting the centralwatch station 39 and simulating normal line resistance, whereby thelamps O or Q are extinguished and the buzzer N silenced by there-operation of relay B or the restoring of relay F, thereby indicatingthe nature of the line trouble.

Commercial current failure In the event of failure or interruption ofthe commercial alternating current, an emergency battery S is providedwhich is connected to the conductors and 43 by a make-before-breakswitch I associated with the springs 20 and 21 of the relay A overconductors 87 and 88 and contacts 89 and 94. As the commercial powerfails, the relay A restores and the switch I makes contact engaging thecurrent of the battery S to maintain the above described circuits.Engagement of battery S illuminates lamp V visually indicating that theemergency battery S is in use, over a circuit traced from terminal 91over conductor 92, through lamp V to terminal 93 over conductors 73, 43and 88.

Similarly when the battery S is engaged, a buzzer Z is actuated toaudibly indicate that the alternating current has been oi and that thesetting of the timer X will need to be adjusted. The buzzer operatesover a circuit traced from terminal 91 over conductors 92 and 120through contact 121 and spring 122 of buzzer Z, through the winding ofbuzzer Z, over conductors 123, 73 and 43, through contact 94, overconductor 88 to terminal 93. Opening of contact 121 silences the buzzerZ.

A battery operated ringing converter, indicated generally by the numeral90, is provided for operating the bells D upon failure of the commercialalternating current. The battery ringing converter 90 is conventionaland includes a suitable transformer, condensers, a resistor and a relay.

When relay A restores, spring 96 is released to its contact 97 toestablish a circuit for the engagement of the battery ringing converter90 when either of the alarm keys G or H makes contact, which may betraced over a circuit from terminalV 91 of battery S through switch I,contact 89 and the windings of a third relay W, over conductors 98 and99, through spring 96 and its contact 97 over conductor 100, throughcontact 61 with spring 5S and contact 94 of the switch I to terminal 93of battery S over conductors 101, 43 and 88. Operation of relay W movessprings 64 and 67 to their respective contacts 102 and 103 and connectsthe battery ringing converter from the secondary winding of itstransformer with the above traced bell ringing circuit over conductors104 and 105. This circuit also supplies current for operating thebattery ringing converter over conductors 106 and 107, respectively,connected with conductors 98 and 100. Upon Vresumption of the commercialsource of power, relay A re-operates disengaging the battery S.

Inter-communication An attendant or guard at telephones U may signal theteller in the booth or at telephone T by removal of the telephone U fromits respective hook which lowers the resistance of the circuit andoperates relay F, as disclosed hereinabove, operating the buzzer N andilluminating lamp Q, as disclosed hereinabove. Removal of telephone Tfrom hook P closes spring 108 with its contact 109 to connect telephoneT with the conductors 34 and 35 of the circuit over conductors 110 and111.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alterationwithout defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to beconfined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and describedherein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An alarm system, including: a source of alternating current; a sourceof direct current; a first relay maintained operated by said directcurrent; alarm bells connected in multiple series; a circuit connectingsaid bells closed by the operation of said rst relay; a sub-cycle ringerconnected with said alternating current; a second relay; an alarm key; a.circuit for said second relay and said alarm key closed by actuation ofsaid alarm'key; and a companion circuit connecting said ringer with saidbells for ringing the same, closed by the operation of said secondrelay.

2. An alarm system, including: a source of alternating current; a sourceof direct current including a full-wave rectiiier connected with saidalternating current; a first relay connected with and maintainedoperated by said direct current; a plurality of alarm bells connected inmultiple series; a circuit for said bells closed by the operation ofsaid first relay; a sub-cycle ringer connected with said alternatingcurrent; a second relay; an alarm key; a circuit for said second relayand said alarm key closed by the contacts of said alarm key foroperating said second relay; a circuit connecting said ringer with saidbells, for ringing the same, closed by the operation of said Secondrelay; and a switch-hook in said alarm key circuit, whereby said secondrelay is restored by opening said switch, thereby silencing said bells.

3. An alarm system, including: a source of alternating current; meansincluding a full-Wave rectifier for changing said alternating current toa source of direct current; a rst relay connected with and maintainedoperated by said direct current; a plurality of alarm bells connected inmultiple series; a circuit for said bells closed by the opera` tion ofsaid first relay; a sub-cycle ringer connected with said alternatingcurrent; a second relay; an alarm key; a circuit for operating saidsecond relay closed by the contact points of said alarm key; a circuitconnecting said ringer with said bells, for ringing the same, closed bythe operation of said second relay; an alarm lamp; a circuit for saidlamp closed by the operation of said second relay; and a switch-hook insaid alarm key circuit, whereby said second relay is restored by openingsaid switch, thereby silencing said bells and extinguishing said lamp.

4. A composite electric signaling and inter-communicating system,including: a source of alternating current; a source of direct current;a lirst relay connected with and maintained operated by said directcurrent; a plurality of alarm bells and telephones connected in multipleseries; a circuit for said bells and telephones closed by the operationof said tirst relay; a sub-cycle ringer connected with said alternatingcurrent; a second relay; an alarm key; a circuit for operating saidsecond relay by the closing of said alarm key; a circuit connecting saidringer with said bells closed by said second relay in operated position;an alarm lamp; a circuit for said lamp closed by said second relay inoperated position; and a switch-hook in said alarm key circuit, wherebysaid second relay is restored by opening said switch, thereby silencingsaid bells, extinguishing said lamp and permitting telephonieintercommunication.

5. A composite electric signaling and intercommunicating system,including: a source of alternating current; means including a full-waverectifier supplying a source of direct current; a first relay connectedwith and maintained operated by said direct current; a plurality ofalarm bells and telephones connected in multiple series; a circuit forsaid bells and telephones closed by the operation of said tirst relay; asub-cycle ringer connected with said alternating current; a secondrelay; an alarm key; a circuit for operating said second relay by theclosing of said alarm key; a circuit connecting said ringer with saidbells, for ringing the same, said circuit closed by the operation ofVsaid second relay; an alarm lamp; a circuit for said lamp closed by theoperation of said second relay; a closed switch-hook in said alarm keycircuit, whereby said second relay is restored by opening said switch,thereby silencing said bells, extinguishing said lamp and permittingtelephonic inter-communication; a marginal relay; a rheostat; and acircuit connecting said marginal relay and said rheostat in series withsaid bells and telephone circuit closing said circuit by the opening ofsaid switch-hook for shorting said marginal relay and said rheostat andestablishing a balanced impedance over said telephone circuit.

6. A composite electric signaling and intercommunication system,including: a Source of alternating current; means including a full-waverectifier supplying a source of direct current; a first relay connectedwith and maintained operated by said direct current; a double woundrelay; a plurality of alarm bells and telephones connected in multipleseries; a circuit for operating said double wound relay and connecting'said bells and telephones, said circuit closed by the operation of thesaid rst relay; a sub-cycle ringer connected with said alternatingcurrent; a second relay; an alarm key; a circuit for operating saidsecond relay by the closing of said alarm key; a circuit connecting saidringer with said bells, for ringing the same, said circuit closed by theoperation of said second relay; an alarm lamp; a circuit for said lampclosed by the operation of said second relay; a closed switch-hook insaid alarm key circuit, whereby said second relay is restored by vtheopening of said switch-hook; a marginal relay; a circuit connecting saidmarginal relay with one winding of said double wound relay, saidmarginal relay normally maintained unoperated; a trouble-indicatinglamp; and a circuit connecting said trouble-indicating lamp with saidmarginal relay, whereby said marginal relay is operated by a. short orlow resistance in said telephone circuit' to illuminate said troublelamp.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6: a buzzer; and a circuit connectingsaid buzzer with said marginal relay, whereby said buzzer is operated bythe operation of said marginal relay.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7: a resistor of xed value; and meansincluding a test kkey for disconnecting said bells kand telephonecircuit and connecting the same through said resistor.

9. A composite electric signaling and inter-communieating system,including: a source of alternating current; means including a full-waverectifier supplying a source of direct current; a rst relay connectedwith and maintained operated by said direct current; a plurality ofbells and telephones connected in multiple series; a circuit for saidbells and telephones closed by the operation of the first said relay; asub-cycle ringer connected with said alternating current; a secondrelay; alarm key means, said means including a base bar having a contactpoint, a spring member having a co-operating contact point, a resilientmember under said spring member bearing against said base, andinsulating means between said resilient member and said base for holdingsaid key contacts open; a circuit for operating said second relay closedby the contact points of said alarm key; a circuit for connecting saidringer with said bells, for ringing the same, said circuit closed by theoperation of said second relay; an alarm lamp; a circuit for said lampclosed by the operation of said second relay; and a switch-hook in saidalarm key circuit, whereby said second relay is restored by opening saidswitch, thereby silencing said bells, extinguishing said lamp andpermitting telephonie intercommunication.

lO. A composite electric signaling and inter-communicating system,including: a source of alternating current; means including a full-waverectier for supplying a source of direct current; a rst relay connectedwith and maintained operated by said direct current; a makebefore-breakswitch; a plurality of alarm bells and telephones connected in multipleseries; a circuit for said bells and telephones closed through saidswitch by the operation of said rst relay; a sub-cycle ringer connectedwith said alternating current; a second relay; an alarm key; a circuitfor operating said second relay closed by the contact points of saidalarm key; a circuit connecting said ringer with said bells, for ringingthe same, said circuit closed by the operation of said second relay; aclosed switch-hook in said alarm key circuit, whereby said second relayis restored by opening said switch-hook; a battery; a battery-ringingconverter; a circuit connecting said oattery and said converter, saidcircuit closed by said makebefore-break switch; a third relay; a circuitfor operating said third relay closed by said alarm key; and a circuitconnecting said converter with said bells and telephone circuit, saidcircuit closed by the operation of said third relay, whereby failure ofsaid alternating current restores the first said relay, therebyconnecting said third relay and said battery and said converter to saidsystem through said make-beore-break switch.

ll. A system as claimed in claim l0: a fourth relay; and a normallyclosed circuit connecting said fourth relay with said direct current andsaid alarm key circuit for operating said fourth relay, whereby openingsaid closed circuit restores said fourth relay closing said alarm keycircuit for operating said second relay and sounding an alarm.

l2. A system as claimed in claim 1l: a timer; and a normally opencircuit connecting said timer with said fourth relay and said closedcircuit, said 4open circuit closed at predetermined times by said timerto maintain said fourth relay operated when said closed circuit isopened, thereby preventing the sounding of an alarm.

13. A system as claimed in claim l2: an alarm lamp; and a circuit forsaid lamp closed by the operation of said second relay.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13: a double wound relay in said bellsand telephone circuit normally operated by the operation of the rst saidrelay; a marginal relay in said bells and telephone circuit normallyunoperated; a rheostat; a circuit connecting said marginal relay andsaid rheostat in series with said telephone circuit closed by theoperation of said switch-hook for establishing a balanced impedance oversaid telephone circuit; a troubleindicating lamp; a lirst circuit forsaid lamp closed by said marginal relay; and a second circuit for saidlamp closed by restoring said double wound relay.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14: an emergency lamp; and a circuitfor said emergency lamp closed by the operation of saidmake-before-break switch.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15: a rst buzzer; a first circuit forsaid first buzzer closed by said marginal 10 relay; and a second circuitfor said rst buzzer closed by restoring said double wound relay.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16: a second buzzer; and a circuit foroperating said second buzzer closed by 5 the operation of saidmake-before-break switch.

No references cited.

